USPTO Prepares for Possible Government Shutdown

In view of the possible US government shutdown due to budget problems (see here or here), USPTO press release 11-26 dated April 7, 2011 reads:

In the event of a government shutdown on April 9, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office will remain open and continue to operate as usual for a period of six business days – through Monday, April 18, 2011 -- because the USPTO has enough available reserves, not linked to the current fiscal year, to remain in operation until then ...

washingtonpost.com - 1 Leser - Congress and President Obama have just about run out of time to craft a federal spending plan for the rest of the year, raising the specter of at least a brief government shutdown.